The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policy-makers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTI people internationally.

Today, advocates and allies in over 130 countries celebrate the event to fight for the right to be free from criminalisation, persecution and stigmatisation.

“We are proud to support and celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia on 17 May. We join the global commemoration of the LGBTI victories won – and work with others to strive for the victories yet to win. We remember the heroes and heroines who have suffered and sacrificed for our collective global freedom. LGBTI liberation is an unstoppable global trend. It has been long delayed but it cannot be denied.”

The date of 17 May was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.

IDAHOBIT is the ‘Global Celebration of Sexual and Gender Identities’ and this year, the global focus issue is mental health and well being.

UN experts have issued a joint statement to end the pathologization of LGBT people. It stated:

“Pathologization of LGBT adults and children – branding them as ill based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression – has historically been, and continues to be, one of the root causes behind the human rights violations that they face.”

IDAHOBIT is the largest LGBTI solidarity event to take place throughout the globe with over 1,000 events taking place in more than 130 countries worldwide. All UK events are listed here, while information for global events can be found here.